A TRANSLATOR. In the trial of a man at the old Bailey, for stealing some shoes, in 1796, one of the witnesses for the prosecution. when asked what he was? answered, "A translator."" What?" says the Judge, who perceived, that like some other learned men, the witness did not appear very rich, "a translator of languages?" - "No, my lord." "What then?" - "Of soles, my lord." "Of souls; I do not understand you; do you mean a clergyman?" - "I don't, my lord." "What do you mean, then? what business are you?" - "I am, my lord, a translator; I mends boots and shoes." "You mend boots and shoes! you are a cobbler, then? - "Yes, my lord."

"You are right enough," said a Translator of Soles,{1} who had overheardBob's last remark...

1 Translator of Soles--A disciple of St. Crispin, alias a cobbler, who can botch up old shoes, so as to have the appearance of being almost new, and who is principally engaged in his laudable occupation by the second-hand shoe- sellers of Field Lane, Turn Stile, &c. for the purpose of turning an honest penny, i.e. to deceive poor purchasers.

[Prob. first used in translat(e pa. pple., ad. L. translāt-us, pa. pple. of transferre to transfer. The pa. pple. soon became translat-ed, and translate the verb stem (see -ate suffix3). But the verb may also immediately repr. F. translater (12th c. in Godef.). Cf. also med.L. translātāre (11th c. in Du Cange).]

I. 1.I.1 a.I.1.a trans. To bear, convey, or remove from one person, place or condition to another; to transfer, transport; spec. to remove a bishop from one see to another, or a bishop's seat from one place to another, and, in Scotland, a minister from one pastoral charge to another; also, to remove the dead body or remains of a saint, or, by extension, a hero or great man, from one place to another. [...]

b.I.1.b To carry or convey to heaven without death; also, in later use, said of the death of the righteous. [...]

c.I.1.c Med. To remove the seat of (a disease) from one person, or part of the body, to another. Now rare or Obs. [...]

d.I.1.d Physics. To move (a body) from one point or place to another without rotation: cf. translation 1 f.

e.I.1.e Physics. intr. To undergo translational motion. [...]

II. 2.II.2 a.II.2.a trans. To turn from one language into another; ‘to change into another language retaining the sense’ (J.); to render; also, to express in other words, to paraphrase. (The chief current sense.) [...]

b.II.2.b absol. To practise translation; to make a version from one language or form of words into another; also intr. for pass., of a language, speech, or writing: To bear or admit of translation. [...]

†c.II.2.c To use in a metaphorical or transferred sense: see translated, quot. 1553, and cf. translate a., translation 4. Obs.

d.II.2.d Biol. To use (genetic information in messenger RNA) to determine the amino-acid sequence of a protein during its synthesis; also with the RNA as obj. [...]

3.II.3 fig. To interpret, explain; to expound the significance of (conduct, gestures, etc.); also, to express (one thing) in terms of another. [...]

III. 4.III.4 To change in form, appearance, or substance; to transmute; to transform, alter; spec. in industrial use: of a tailor, to renovate, turn, or cut down (a garment); of a cobbler, to make new boots from the remains of (old ones).

Second Commoner Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler. MARULLUS But what trade art thou? answer me directly. Second Commoner A trade, sir, that, I hope, I may use with a safe conscience; which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.MARULLUS What trade, thou knave? thou naughty knave, what trade? Second Commoner Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me: yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you. MARULLUS What meanest thou by that? mend me, thou saucy fellow! Second Commoner Why, sir, cobble you. 20FLAVIUS Thou art a cobbler, art thou? Second Commoner Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I

recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat's-leather have gone upon my handiwork.